It's time to talk about Trump's mental health - By Eugene Robinson

[DonViejo]

How unstable and divorced from reality is President Trump? We’ve reached the point where the nation has the right and the need to know.

We’re not accustomed to asking such questions about our presidents. We don’t know how to even begin inquiring into a president’s mental health, so we rationalize aberrant behavior as being part of some subtle strategy. We say that Trump is cleverly playing to his base, or employing the “madman theory” of foreign relations, or simply being unpredictable to gain an advantage by keeping everyone off balance. But if Trump were really playing three-dimensional chess, presumably he’d be getting things done. His approval ratings would be rising rather than falling. Allies in Congress would be expressing admiration rather than increasing dismay.

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) hit a nerve Thursday when he said that Trump “has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability nor some of the competence” needed in a president. That indictment was significant because Corker, who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, is a respected Capitol Hill veteran who chooses his words carefully — and who thus far has been willing to give Trump a chance. Corker said he feared that “our nation is going to go through great peril” and called for “radical change” at the White House.

Democrats have been slightly more plain-spoken. Rep. Adam B. Schiff told CNN on Sunday that “I certainly think that there’s an issue with the president’s capability.” And fellow California Rep. Jackie Speier tweeted last week that Trump “is showing signs of erratic behavior and mental instability that place the country in grave danger.”

more
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-to-talk-about-trumps-mental-health/2017/08/21/40d86eac-86ac-11e7-961d-2f373b3977ee_story.html?undefined=&utm_term=.8f60a3f417d9&wpisrc=nl_headlines&wpmm=1

[dalton99a]

1. The evil sick fuck is sick AND evil.

[PJMcK]

2. The evil sick fuck is sick AND evil AND he's a fuck (n/t)

[sofa king]

3. I would say the time for that is well past us, isn't it?

[Dustlawyer]

4. It is a horrible and cruel joke that our leader

is so obviously in over his head, corrupt, ignorant, deceitful and malicious. How can we have someone like this for a position this important.

[gademocrat7]

5. He is a pathological liar, a racist, incompetent, malevolent buffoon.

[flibbitygiblets]

6. It is unconscionable that in 2017 there is no physical & mental fitness test for high office

Testing for signs of dementia and alzheimer's should be mandatory, at a minimum, ever year. Pre-confirmation tests for "personality disorders" should also be required.

As to physical health, we the people have the right to know things like BMI, heart disease, and anything else that might compromise the health of those holding high office (including those in direct line of succession).

Finally, a public report of all financial dealings should be mandatory (I know this goes without saying, but...here we are).

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. You hear that? It is the beginning of a groundswell.

We will be hearing it more often now, until a critical mass is achieved.
and soon, I hope.

[njhoneybadger]

8. What does that say about the 80% rethugs that still support him

[Wounded Bear]

9. K & R ......just do it!

[sagesnow]

10. It seems that Republiklans are very comfortable with

incompetent figureheads as the Head of State. Especially since he has a triumvirate of Generals around him to man-babysit. Look how popular Reagan was, and still is among them, given that he had dementia during the last two years of office. Holding your breath until impeachment will most likely be hazardous to your well being.

[pat_k]

17. Mentally ill? Yes. Accomplishing things RW has dreamed about? Ditto.

I am happy to see the "buzz" spreading about DT's mental health. He is, of course, absolutely diagnosable.

I am less happy to see the narrative that he is somehow ineffectual. This is is flat wrong. The DT juggernaut is in full swing, and accomplishing precisely what the reactionary right and analstocrasy have dreamed about.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=9499252

[L. Coyote]

11. A year ago was when. "When you're a star they let you ogle other stars."

And the long list of other things, being a pussy grabber at the top of that list.

A privileged child idiot who can't help himself and has to look at the sun during an eclipse isn't our only problem, there is literally a cabal of enablers who know he is unfit first hand, but who all crave power to such a degree they play along with having an unprincipled asshole power monger mental case take over the country with the help of a foreign adversary.

[Gothmog]

12. Trump is mentally ill and the Goldwater rule makes no sense in today's world

[TomSlick]

14. The Goldwater Rule creates a Catch-22.

A mental health professional cannot diagnose a public figure s/he has not examined in person. Of course, once a mental health professional examines a public official, professional confidentiality would prevent disclosure.

That being said, I don't think we need a DSM caliber diagnosis for Trump. If you see someone with a deep cough, runny nose, etc., you don't know the nature of the illness but you know s/he's sick. We don't know specifically what's wrong with Trump, but we know he's mentally ill.

[pat_k]

18. Well, at least the Amer. Psychoanalytic Associate has nixed the Goldwater rule.

http://www.apsa.org/content/american-psychoanalytic-association-statement-“goldwater-rule”

The American Psychological Associate "prefers" members not offer opinions without direct examination, but doesn't have a "Goldwater rule."

It would be very nice to see the American Psychiatric Associate recognize that it's time to drop it.

[Hekate]

13. Here's to Eugene Robinson

[Doug the Dem]

15. With Donnie, it's pretty much Open-and-Shut

[pat_k]

16. In case you don't want to unblock ads to view WP

Here's a link to column in the Oregonian
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2017/08/eugene_robinson_how_unhinged_i.html